Calibrachoa Plant Named &#39;Danoaviolt&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DANOAVIOLT’ is disclosed, characterized by a mounded growth habit and very well branched plant form. Plants produce an abundance of large violet flowers with purple veins and center. The new variety is tolerant of high temperatures above 28° C. The new variety is a  Calibrachoa , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Calibrachoa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANOAVIOLT’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Calibrachoa varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety occurred during January of 2012.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Calibrachoa ‘cv.12-2756’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in October of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2012 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by terminal vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in October of 2012 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANOAVIOLT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANOAVIOLT’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANOAVIOLT’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa cultivar:

-   1. Very well branched plant. -   2. Mounded growth habit. -   3. Large flower size. -   4. Abundant flowering. -   5. Flower color is violet with dark purple veins and center.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAVIOLT’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Calibrachoa ‘cv. 12-2756’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAVIOLT’ differ in the following;

-   1. Mounded growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a semi-trailing     growth habit. -   2. Larger flower size than the seed parent. -   3. Flower color is violet with dark purple veins and center, whereas     the seed parent has solid blue flowers. -   4. More flowers than the seed parent. -   5. More branches than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAVIOLT’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA20’. The two Calibrachoa varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANOAVIOLT’ differs in the following:

-   1. Larger flowers than the comparator. -   2. Mounded growth habit. The comparator's growth habit is     semi-trailing. -   3. Flowers are violet with dark purple veins and center and light     yellow throat, whereas the comparator has flowers that are blue with     a white throat. -   4. More flowers than the comparator. -   5. Earlier flowering than the comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAVIOLT’ can also be compared to the patented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA60’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,987. The two Calibrachoa varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANOAVIOLT’ differs in the following:

-   1. More flowers than the comparator. -   2. Mounded growth habit. The comparator's growth habit is     semi-trailing. -   3. Flowers are violet with dark purple veins and center and light     yellow throat, whereas the comparator flowers are violet-blue with a     white throat. -   4. Wider and shorter leaves than the comparator. -   5. More branches than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANOAVIOLT’ grown in a nursery, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANOAVIOLT’ plants grown outdoors and in greenhouse during the Spring Summer and Autumn, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 15° C. to 25° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa ‘DANOAVIOLT’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—10-14 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 60 days from a rooted             cutting.         -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Mounded.         -   Height.—Approximately 14 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 60 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very well branched.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity of             Primary Lateral Branches: 8 Length of Primary Lateral             Branches: About 25 cm. Form: Cylindrical Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146 C Texture: Slightly pubescent             Strength: Strong and flexible.         -   Internode length.—2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 70 per             branch. Average Length: 3.5 cm. Average Width: 1.4 cm. Shape             of blade: Oval Apex: Rounded Base: Acute Margin: Entire             Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of bottom surface:             Velvety Pubescence: Slightly pubescent all surfaces Aspect:             90 degrees angle of attachment, flat leaf. Color: Young             foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 C Young foliage under             side: RHS Green 137 D Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green             137 A Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137 B Venation:             Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: RHS Green 137 B             Venation color under side: RHS Green 137 D Petiole: Length:             0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Green 137 A Texture:             Velvety -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer, and Autumn.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—about 40 days.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single             flower, salverform shape. Outwardly facing.         -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 4 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—4 to 7 days.         -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 120.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular Length: 2.5 cm Diameter: 0.6 cm Color:             RHS Green-Yellow 1 C; distal end — RHS Purple 79 C.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 4.0 cm. Length: about 2.0 cm.             Flower tube diameter at distal end: about 1.0 cm. Flower             tube diameter at proximal end: about 0.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Length from throat: about 1.7 cm. Width: about 2 cm.             Quantity: 5 Texture: Velvety all surfaces Apex: Heart-shaped             Margin: Entire.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface RHS Violet 83 B with dark             veins and center 83 A Lower surface: RHS Violet 83 C with             dark veins 83 B Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Violet 83 C             with dark veins and center 83 A Lower surface: RHS Violet 83             D with dark veins 83 C Flower throat (inside): RHS             Green-Yellow 1 B Flower throat, vein: RHS Violet 83 B Flower             tube (outside): RHS Green-Yellow 1 C Flower tube, vein: RHS             Violet 83 B Petal color, fading to: RHS Violet 83 D with             dark veins 83 C.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:             about 1.5 cm Width: about 0.5 cm Apex: Rounded Base: Fused             Margin: Entire Texture: Velvety Color: Upper Surface: RHS             Green 137 B Lower Surface: RHS Green 137 C.         -   Peduncle.—Not relevant.         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 2 cm. Diameter: about 0.1 cm. Color:             RHS Yellow-Green 146 C Orientation: 45 degrees angle of             attachment, straight.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 5 Filament length: about 1 cm             Anthers: Shape: Rounded Length: about 0.1 cm Color: RHS             Yellow 12 A.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow 12 A Amount: Abundant.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: about 0.9 cm Styles:             Length: about 0.7 cm Color: RHS Green-Yellow 1 C Stigma:             Shape: Rounded Color: RHS Green 143 C Ovary Color: RHS             Yellow-Green 154 C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 30 brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5             mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule. Minute, not             accurately measured with RHS chart.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Calibrachoa             have been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—5° to 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘DANOAVIOLT’ as herein illustrated and described. 